IRVING, Texas – Conference USA announced Thursday its 2019 preseason baseball poll and awards, as voted upon by the league's 12 head coaches. Louisiana Tech was picked to finish second in the league, while three Bulldogs were named to the preseason all-conference team.
 
Left-handed pitcher Logan Bailey, outfielder Parker Bates and infielder Hunter Wells were recognized on the preseason all-conference team, while the Bulldogs picked up two first-place votes en route to a predicted second-place finish by the league's coaches.
 
In 2018, Bailey posted an 8-1 overall record (6-0 in C-USA action) in 14 starts, while finishing the year with a team-best 2.24 ERA (best among C-USA returners) on the way to First Team All-Conference USA honors. Bailey made it through five innings and allowed two or fewer runs in 12 of his 14 starts. The senior was also named First Team All-Louisiana and honored as a member of the ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region.
 
Wells, also a 2018 First Team All-Conference USA honoree, led the team and ranked fourth in C-USA with a .357 batting average, while starting in all 59 games. The junior hit for the first recorded cycle in program history and set a new program single-season record with 91 base hits (most in C-USA). His 52 hits in conference matchups were the most in the league.
 
Meanwhile, Bates, a 2018 Second Team All-Conference USA member, finished last season with a team-best 50 RBIs and 18 doubles. He hit .310 with a team-best 23 extra-base hits while starting all 59 games in center field. Bates was also named Second Team All-Louisiana and led the Bulldogs with 13 multiple-RBI games.
 
Tech opens the 2019 season on the road in Hammond, Louisiana, taking on Southeastern Louisiana for the first time since 2015. Following the three-game set running Feb. 15-17, the Bulldogs open their home slate against the Ragin' Cajuns of UL-Lafayette on Tuesday, February 19 at 6 p.m. Conference USA play begins on March 15^th with Tech welcoming the preseason favorites Southern Miss Golden Eagles to the Love Shack for a three-game set.
 
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1.            Southern Miss (8)                            
2.            Louisiana Tech (2)
3.            Florida Atlantic (1)
4.            Rice (1)
5.            FIU
6.            Charlotte
7.            UTSA
8.            UAB
9.            Old Dominion
10.          WKU
11.          Marshall
12.          Middle Tennessee
   (first place votes in parentheses)
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matt Wallner, Southern Miss (Junior, OF/P)
 
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Matt Canterino, Rice (Junior, RHP)
 
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
SP           Logan Bailey      Sr.           Louisiana Tech
SP           Matt Canterino Jr.           Rice
SP           Walker Powell   Jr.           Southern Miss
SP           Stevie Powers   Sr.           Southern Miss
RP           Zach Schneider Sr.           Florida Atlantic
C             Rey Pastrana      Sr.           Marshall
IF            Bryan Arias         Sr.           UTSA
IF            Hunter Slater     Sr.           Southern Miss
IF            Austin Shenton Jr.           FIU
IF            Hunter Wells     Jr.           Louisiana Tech
OF          Parker Bates      Jr.           Louisiana Tech
OF          Blake Benefield Sr.           Middle Tennessee
OF          Matt Wallner     Jr.           Southern Miss
DH/UT  Logan Allen         So.          FIU
 
 
Baseball/Softball Fan Day
 
Louisiana Tech fans are invited to attend a joint baseball/softball Fan Day, set for Saturday, February 2 at 11 a.m. at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
 
The 90-minute event is free and will include inflatable games, interactive baseball and softball drill stations, poster giveaways, team autographs and a raffle for various team giveaways. Fans will also be presented with a coupon for a discounted ticket to the Lady Techsters' basketball game against FIU that tips at 2 p.m. that day.
 
Season tickets for Bulldog baseball will be on sale at the event (admission for Lady Techster softball games is free; the exception being the LA Tech Tournament Feb. 15-17). Any fan who has already purchased Bulldog baseball season tickets already will have an opportunity to win their season tickets for free by hitting a home run at the end of the event.
 
Bulldog Baseball Season Ticket Information

• Renewal Deadline – Monday, January 28
• Season Ticket Prices start at $99.00
  • General Admission Bleacher - $99
  • Reserved Chair Back - $130
  • Dugout Seating - $180
• Season Tickets are available by coming in the office or over the phone (318) 257-3631. 
  • Hours are 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM, Monday – Friday
• Available online 24/7 at LATechSports.com